The Human Sciences Research Council Press (HSRC Press) launched its latest book in the flagship publication State of the Nation series, titled Quality of Life and Wellbeing at the University of the Free State (UFS).

The launch took place on Thursday, 13 June in the Equitas Auditorium on the Bloemfontein Campus. Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation of the UFS, was the lead editor, with Profs Narnia Bohler-Muller, divisional executive in the HSRC’s Developmental, Capable and Ethical State research division; and acting Group Executive; Zitha Mokomane, a professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Pretoria; and Prof Crain Soudien, Chief Executive Officer of the HSRC. Prof Soudien was not at the launch.

The discussion was facilitated by Dr Molapo Qhobela, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Institutional Change, Strategic Partnerships and Societal Impact.

Celebrating its 20th year of existence, the State of the Nation volume, one of the HSRC’s flagship publications, serves as an invaluable, independent scholarly resource offering insights into the current state of South Africa. The 2024 edition explores themes such as the environment, quality of life and wellbeing, an open economy, mental health, the arts, human security, gender and wellbeing, vaccinations, wellbeing and happiness, and inequality in South Africa.

The state in which the nation finds itself 

In his welcome remarks, the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Francis Petersen, said two decades ago when the State of the Nation series began, South Africa was attempting to come to terms with the complex legacies of colonialism and apartheid and was contending with the post-apartheid reconstruction, development and reconciliation.

“I think there was a sense of optimism during that time for the future and a collective sense that the country’s challenges, however deep and multifaceted, those challenges were and are, could be overcome in time.

“Two decades later South Africa finds itself at a political watershed and having to deal with many of the same challenges as from 2004, such as economic inequality, social justice and effective government,” said Prof Petersen.

According to him, it is welcome to note that this volume brings to the fore new, fresh and relevant directions that address issues relating to quality of life and notions of wellbeing. Key questions that are inferred and that underpin much of the scholarship on offer, said Prof Petersen, is what is the state? Where is the state? Where does the state begin and where does it end?

“The editors offer compelling analyses that it is in the complex act of making lives of individuals acting in their own interest and the government articulating an agenda for the nation that we are able to discern the outlines of the state in which the nation finds itself.”

The scope and drivers

Prof Reddy, in his short introductory remarks, provided descriptive comments and focused on the background, the concept, the process, and some of the scope and drivers informing the text and context shaping the volume.

The latest book which took two-and-half years to produce, has two predecessor volumes published in the 2019 and 2021 respectively, with poverty and inequality and an ethics of care being a strong thematic.

“What is the importance of the scope of the volume and what makes the book unique. With this volume, thematising quality of life and wellbeing, we have seen some very interesting work being developed in the country. This particular volume is the first fully dedicated edition in the State of the Nation series dealing with this issue. We felt it was timely, we felt that this issue of Quality of Life and Wellbeing that were kind of completely interrelated,” said Prof Reddy.

According to him, some of the drivers that shaped this volume included the spectre of poverty and inequality which is an underlying implicit theme. Their implication for human wellbeing and human conditions in several different ways remains key.

Prof Reddy said the book is divided into four parts that deal with quality of life, politics and the state; economics; society, culture, identity and the public good; and looking at South Africa and beyond, including issues such as human security, gender and peace.

“The big issue with the volume’s theorical and conceptual framework is about building theory as well as much as it is also about dealing with the empirical and material realities facing citizens. The volume is predicated on quality of life and wellbeing, asking whether standards of living and styles of living lead us to a good life. And the questions we pose include: What is a good life? What are the attributes and elements of such a life? What are the conditions that need to be met to meaningfully improve quality of life and wellbeing?”

Environmental wellbeing

Talking about her chapter which addresses environmental and human health, Prof Narnia Bohler-Muller stated that the constitution was the starting point as what is embedded in the constitution is the recognition of the importance of wellbeing although the word is seldom used in the constitution.

“The first time ‘wellbeing’ is used is in Section 24 which deals with environmental rights. We thought this is a complex intersection – law, human rights, constitutionalism, health and wellbeing, and quality of life, so let’s explore it.

“We all know that the environment is extremely important. We cannot live without it. We are in a massive crisis in the world when it comes to the environment and climate change. There is an intersectionality between environment, climate, health, and wellbeing. Other issues also include clean water and the risk of extreme weather events as a result of climate change.”

Dissatisfied by the status quo in Soutth Africa

Prof Mokomane said two questions drove her co-authored chapter titled Quality of Life and political support in SA – resilient nation. The first question is: Do peoples’ perception of quality of governance influence their quality of life? And the second question was: Which aspects of government quality signify as important contributors to quality of life?

“This chapter reaffirms the notion that was held by many that the general public has become increasing dissatisfied by the status quo in South Africa over the past decade. We concluded that the political and economic crises of the past decade have perhaps begun to create a scenario in which personal fear is gaining traction over the hope that South Africans are known for.

“The overall conclusion is that for many South Africans resilience has been displaced by resignation which has introduced the risk of further disability and fragility in the country in the future.”

Profs Hussein Solomon from the Centre for Gender and African Studies and Philippe Burger, Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, were respondents to the text.